Oversley Flowers

29/07/2024

Beautiful sunny week forecast, olympics in full swing, British summer weather at its best, flower plot in full bloom. Perfect. If you need a top up of flowers this week just DM me. # localfliwersalcester

27/07/2024

The wonders of nature and colour. Just look at these dahlias as an example, all individual and each so beautiful. It is such a joy selecting flowers for different colour palettes and styles for florists. This week there is a lovely selection of- burgundy and orange, peach and white, wild and whimsical and hot pink. It will be fun!

27/07/2024

25/07/2024

✨Wedding Florists – celebrating love with beautiful flowers 🌸

Sometimes it has to be white with a touch of pink...

The florist will create your stunning bridal bouquets, enchanting table centers, whimsical meadow boxes, and grand milk churn displays. Perfectly managing the detail. The florist has ordered in roses and I have picked a British Flower mix to provide the soft and finishing touches.

Today’s buckets of flowers are filled with

🌺 Dreamy Dahlias 🌸 Lovely Lavatera 🌼 Gorgeous Godetia 🌾 Charming Achillea 🍃 🌼 scabious 🌾 double feverfew 🌿 Soft Greenery 🌿 Trailing Vine & Jasmine and tall ammi major and daucus for the large milk churn displays

📸 Don’t forget to tag me in your creations! I love seeing how you bring the flowers to life.

20/07/2024

Dahlia love. With the months of cool weather we have been waiting ages for these boys. Now they are starting to arrive, lots of happy faces. The nice thing is we still have lots of the early spring sown hardy annuals flowering to mix with the dahlias to make spectacular displays. DM me you need a top up of flowers for next week.

18/07/2024

Lots of celebrations this weekend. Wedding flowers going out to florists today. It was an early morning start to get everything picked while it was cool. First bucket of dahlias picked today! Now it is back to the Flower Den. The flowers will stay in the cool and dark until they are collected later today. #

30/06/2024

Thank goodness for this little trailer to carry all the buckets of flowers back to my Flower Den. It is an old ride on mower which doesn’t mow any more but has the perfect flat base trailer. It is these practical things which make the day to day of flower growing so much easier.

14/03/2024

✨A whole day immersed in sustainable floristry – just heaven! It is going to be fun, lots of creativity and learning.

🌿Fresh on-trend designs, beautiful suspended floral installations, amazing large scale fireplace display and a cool spring tablescape.

🌸We have been prepping today, ready for the floristry workshop on Sunday when we will be joined by other flower enthusiasts.

🌿It will be a hands-on opportunity to try new designs, develop new skills, understand the planning, costing and processes for large scale event floristry.

Lead by . Full details on the website

06/03/2024

We all love snapdragons (Antirrhinum), a childhood favourite of mine.

My snapdragons in the greenhouse are ready to be hardened off after this cold spell, so they will be moved out of the green house onto shelves just outside. A nice area where they are protected from winds and heavy rain but can toughen up and get used to the outdoor temperatures so they will be ready to be planted out in the flower plot soon.

I pinch off the top leaf so each plant will then grow side shoots and more stems and more flowers. In the second photo you can see the little shoots starting where I have taken out the main stem.

Buckets filled with flowers including snaps will be going out to florists in the summer for their weddings and events

03/03/2024

🌸 Elevate your wedding florals with big milk churns overflowing with vibrant flowers.

🌼 Not only do they add a rustic charm, but they also create a stunning backdrop for your celebration.

Book the milk churns with me, I can check the diary for you, just send me a DM

03/03/2024

Lasting beauty; When the wedding is outside the British flowering season and sustainability and care for the environment is important to you, using locally grown flowers will be part of your decision making and planning. If your wedding is in the winter months between October and March the selection of UK grown flowers is limited so dried flowers provide the perfect solution.

🌿Lasting Beauty: Dried flowers exude timeless elegance, retaining their beauty a long after the festivities end. They become cherished mementos for you and your guests, preserving the magic of your special day.
🌿 Convenient Planning: Receive your flowers well in advance, making wedding planning a breeze. It can all be sorted well ahead of time!
🌱 Sustainability at Heart: Choose locally grown dried flowers and make an eco-conscious choice that aligns with your values.

02/03/2024

Inside day today, a day for planning and getting organised. Far too wet to any flower plot activities.

If you too are planning your weekends ahead or wanting something different for Mother’s day you may like ‘Nature Notebooks’ afternoon on the 24th March with Jo from Haven4wildlife. A couple of hours of mindfulness, looking at and recording nature in a peaceful and calm space here on the Oversley Flower’s plot, Alcester.

To find out more and to book (£20) contact Jo directly [email protected]

Have a good weekend

23/02/2024

Bumblebees are so beautiful it is worth taking a closer look at them. I have just seen a few out today although they were looking a bit wet!

You can see specific differences in the colour of their tail – for a start there are three distinct colours – white tail, red tail and all buff the same colour as their body. Take a look, it’s the start to identifying the different species.

Mahonia, winter heather, winter flowering honeysuckle and snowdrops are a few of the flowers they may source their nectar from at this time of year. If you are planning your garden include a few early flowering things for the bees.

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23/02/2024

The first flower buds on the ranunculus are starting to show. The flowers will be a little while yet I expect them to flower around the end of April beginning of May depending on the weather between now and then.

The ranunculus are all tucked in the poly tunnel and out of all this heavy rain we are having at the moment. But, cold temperatures are forecast for tonight and tomorrow for me so they will have to be covered with light fleece for added protection.
Roll on warmer weather!

Have a good weekend. Might be too wet for any serious outside gardening for all you growers.

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22/02/2024

Embrace the beauty of nature in a heartfelt goodbye.

🌿 When words fail, let flowers speak volumes. Funeral arrangements can be designed with homegrown flowers and foliage, capturing the essence of the season, reflecting the tranquility of your own garden or a peaceful walk in countryside.

🍃A tribute that's unpretentious, special, and tailored to honor your loved one.

💕 A personalized farewell this week in sunset colours with tulips, daffodils, rosehips, plus snowdrops and fresh buds as a reminder of good memories every spring, and rosemary for remembrance.

🍃 Designs to reflect nature’s beauty and special memories

💕 Made with the environment in mind without using floral foam or plastic and are suitable for natural and woodland burials.

20/02/2024

Hellebores are so pretty – their delicate nodding heads on their own in a bud vase or part of a larger arrangement. But, they can be tricky to work with, they need specific conditioning to get a good vase length depending on when the flowers are picked.

When the flowers have just opened (when they are at their prettiest!) and the stamens are still in the middle of the flowers. Take a very sharp pointed knife or fine scapel, put a small cut ( 1 – 2mm deep) right up the whole stem then put the stem in a tall vase of cool water so the whole stem is covered for 24 hrs. The long cut in the stem allows the plant to drink a lot more water

When the central seed pod has formed in the middle of the flower they are more robust. Cut the base of the stem at an angle and pop the it in boiling water for 15 seconds and then into cool water for a few hours.

If you have any in your own garden do try it out.

16/02/2024

Inspiration from learning.

Do you get inspiration from learning and researching. I just love it, for me it

• sparks creativity
• it gives new ideas
• opens up new questions
• provides inspiration
• builds networks of new friends
• if it is for your business it builds skills and adds value
• Best of all…. it is so satisfying!

What are you learning and getting inspiration from this year?

I am in the middle of researching new varieties to add something special to the buckets of flowers, I have a new passion too – garden design – this is going to be inspiring! Fitness and French – the latter is something I just have to do. Planning in time to get these done is the most important to get the satisfaction and creativity.

If you are a florist or planning on doing your own wedding flowers and want to build confidence and have hands-on experience in how to make suspended flower installation / flower clouds, create a beautiful fire place display or stunning tablescape – join us on the 17th March, here in Alcester. Link in the bio or just DM me.

14/02/2024

Tulips and ranuculus are the joys of early spring flowers. End of April and the beginning of May they start to flower.

They were both planted back in the autumn, the ranuculus we are nurturing in the polytunnel so they have some protection from the wind and the rain. The tulips are tough and are out in the field just starting to pop their noses through.

Beautiful luxury double tulips and the delicate ranuculus, often know as the winter rose, join the spring blossom for special events at this time of year.

08/02/2024

Sustainable floral splendor for weddings and events!

🌺✨ Are you ready to elevate your wedding and event game with stunning eco friendly sustainable floristry designs?

🌸 Dive into the world of large-scale floral installations! Learn how to create dreamy suspended floral designs and dress a large scale fireplace.

🌿 Tablescapes with a Twist: Explore creative table arrangements which are beautiful, sustainable and cost effective.

🌿🌸A one day course lead by Ashley on here in Alcester, Warwickshire (B49) Sunday, March 17th, 10 AM – 4.30 PM

🌿 Build confidence, understand pricing and timing, ask questions and share time with other floral enthusiasts and have professional pics for your portfolio.

( For a cheeky 10% discount contact Ashley )

🌸To book or to find out more just DM me or Ashley

weddingfloristy #

07/02/2024

Are you following your passion? Can you find time in your week to do something that brings joy, excitement and something you are really enthusiastic about?

🌿 For me, it's all about growing flowers, extending into floristry, and championing sustainability through my small business.

🌱 Reflecting on my journey, I always knew I wanted to nurture growth in some form. From studying Agricultural Botany to founding Greenwatt Technology, my path has been diverse yet deeply rooted in sustainability and project management.

🌸 But, now I am growing flowers which I love, a passion I share with so many of you gardeners. Aren’t we lucky - nature's beauty we can all share, and I feel fortunate to be part of this ever-evolving sector.

🌸 Enjoy what you love - whatever it may be! Share it with others…..

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06/02/2024

Choosing Colors & Textures!

Creating the perfect bouquet goes beyond just flowers—it's about harmonizing colours and textures to make something beautiful.

🌿 Experiment with a blend of vibrant hues and subtle tones to create depth and visual interest in the design

🌼 Incorporate a variety of textures, from light ‘floaty’ ethereal petals to lush foliage, for a something enchanting

🎨 Find the colour palette you love: Whether it's a bold statement or a soft, romantic vibe, choose colours that resonate with your style and the occasion.

When you are creating for a wedding or specific event let me know what your vision is for the occasion and I will curate buckets of flowers for you to match the occasion and your style.

Share your floral creations with me!

31/01/2024

In the midst of life's toughest moments, flowers can be source of comfort and reprieve.

Our garden-gathered, relaxed 'wildflower' arrangements are a tender alternative to conventional funeral flowers.

These are very natural arrangements to reflect the love and care felt by those who have lost a loved one, where possible using flowers and foliage picked from my flower plot here in Alcester.

Growing these flowers is my joy, and designing the arrangements is a creative journey which I hope will provide an uplifting focal point on a challenging day, a reminder that even in goodbyes, there can be enduring beauty.

30/01/2024

🌱✨ Gardening Tip for Success! ✨🌱
To optimize your seed-sowing success, let's talk about the unsung heroes of your garden – the seed trays! 🌿💚
🌱 Choose the right seed trays: Ensure they're deep enough to hold ample compost, preventing quick drying. Invest in quality trays with sturdy plastic to avoid tears – we're in this for the long haul (reuse, minimise waste, sustainable growing)
💧 Maintain the perfect moisture balance: Provide optimum conditions for your little seedlings by keeping the compost moist but not too wet. More than one hole in the base ensures good drainage, and a slightly raised portion prevents waterlogging.
🌱 Look out for these tray essentials:
• Adequate depth for compost retention
• Multiple drainage holes for healthy plants
• A raised base for efficient water drainage
• Strong enough to pick up with one hand when loaded with compost and seedlings
It end of January so no need to rush – take the time to prep your greenhouse. Enjoy the anticipation of sowing season! 🌷🌼

26/01/2024

Sustainable floral splendor for weddings and events!

🌺✨ Are you ready to elevate your wedding and event game with stunning eco friendly sustainable floristry designs?

🌸 Dive into the world of large-scale floral installations! Learn how to create dreamy suspended floral designs and dress a large scale fireplace.

🌿 Tablescapes with a Twist: Explore creative table arrangements which are beautiful, sustainable and cost effective.

🌿🌸A one day course lead by Ashley on here in Alcester, Warwickshire (B49) Sunday, March 17th, 10 AM – 4.30 PM

🌿 Build confidence, understand pricing and timing, ask questions and share time with other floral enthusiasts and have professional pics for your portfolio.

( For a cheeky 10% discount contact Ashley )

🌸To book your place https://ashtreefloraldesigns.co.uk/product/suspended-floral-installation-workshop-alcester-town-hall-warwickshire/

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24/01/2024

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21/01/2024

Winter vibes in the bee world!
🐝Honey bees are hunkering down, forming cozy winter clusters to keep warm in the hives and feeding from their stored honey.
🐝 Bumblebee queens are chilling in their secret hideouts. The queen finds a suitable place often underground or in rock cavities or under layers of dense vegetation and stays dormant until she emerges when it starts warming up in spring. Only the queen bumblebee survives through the winter.
🌷 Bees need to find nectar and pollen straight away in spring so when planning our gardens we need to think about providing early nectar and pollen sources like primroses, crocus, winter flowering shrubs.

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17/01/2024

Behind the scenes with Ranunculus – the early 'spring rose' for May weddings
🌱 Starting as uniquely shaped corms, resembling mini octopuses.
🌱 For an early burst of spring color, I plant these beauties in the polytunnel during autumn. Where they have time to build up a good root ball.
🌱 In this chilly weather, they're holding their own under a light fleece, but once it warms up, they'll grow rapidly.
🌸 flowering starts late April and early May, they steal the spotlight in the flower plot!
💫 Adored by florists for spring weddings, these flowers bring a touch of luxury and romance.
Any questions? – just ask

15/01/2024

Embrace the beauty of unique farewells
🌳Our funeral flower choices extend beyond tradition. Here an all-foliage autumn farewell spray, mirroring the vibrant colours from a stroll through Oversley Woods with the addition of acorns and pine cones.
🌷 Remember, floral tributes need not adhere to convention; they can be crafted to embody your loved one's interests —capturing their personality, passion for the outdoors, or cherished walks.
💕 Traditional styles are always an option, but it's about the meaningful discussion, honouring family preferences, and echoing your fondness for your loved one.
🕊️ farewell flowers that truly speaks from the heart.

10/01/2024

The flower journey begins!
🌸 As we gear up for the upcoming floral season, our focus is on the essentials, and compost is a game-changer!
🌿 It is essential to ensuring our seedlings kickstart their journey healthy and strong - this is the key to quality blooms later on.
🌺 The quest for the perfect peat-free compost is real – finely balanced for optimal root growth, moisture retention, and reliability
🌱 We're all about cultivating robust, healthy seedlings and plants that will flourish on our plot when the warmth arrives.
🌞 Quality over quantity is our mantra, and each stage of the growing process is a crucial step towards a beautiful selection of flowers later in the season

20/07/2023

Blues, whites, purples and yellows were selected to make up a very natural funeral spray as an alternative to the traditional selection of flowers. This was for someone who loved their garden and a more natural garden gathered approach was so fitting.

I selected a combination of flowers from my flower plot in his favourite colours, flowers which were looking lovely at that time of year. This spray included canterbury bells, antirrhinum, scabious, cornflowers, sweet william, phacelia, bupleurum, linaria and larkspur.

Always such an honour to be asked to select and provide flowers for such a special occasion. Thank you.